HOT days in July!

I looked back at my last post- apparently it was a cold day. Well, it's not cold anymore! It's 92 degrees right now, and it has been hot and humid for some time, hot and humid in between lots of rain. I suppose I should keep my mouth shut, but you know, I'd like that cold day back right now. It's too hot for me!

Sunset at camp

 

 

 

My summer classes are finally done! Phew! I don't think I'll do that again! To celebrate, we took a quick trip to camp. It was not quite as hot, and the lake is there, so relief was always close! We brought bikes and fished. I caught 2 nice trout for dinner. We saw a moose. It's funny, seeing a moose is just one of the things you do when you go to Eustis. In the evening, after dinner, you get in your car, drive to Stratton and head towards the dump- before you get there, you turn into the towns salt and sand lot- there are bogs on each side, and the moose are always there. It sort of feels like a drive in movie, because there can be anywhere from 5-15 other vehicles parked there watching for moose.  Hopefully we will get back up there soon and be able to spend more than one night.

Swimming buddies

 

The new chickens are settling in nicely- I should take some pictures. We had to cull one recently- she was very mean, and was sick. I treated her to the extent that I could, but it came down to making a decision about the health and safety of the entire flock. It sucked even more because we couldn't eat the meat. Both Joe and I cried...again. God. It's all part of our responsibility though. I suppose if I'm not willing to do that, I shouldn't have chickens.

sunrise on Litchfield road

welsummer pullets

The garden is growing- we have been eating lettuce, chard and beet greens. The corn is past my knees. The rain has been good for the veggies....and the weeds! It's a mess! I'm slowly taking it back though- I've been pulling weeds and finally laying down newspapers and hay. I'll take a photo when I'm done!

Cold Day in June

The end of May flew past. So did the beginning of June. So much time has been eaten up by summer classes. My Biology class is honestly kicking my butt! Class for 5 hours 2 times a week, plus studying every other waking second- well, in between work for my other class, work, and everything else that must happen on a typical day to keep things running around here!

Nothing beats fresh lettuce

The garden is 90% planted. Everything that is planted has sprouted ( yay!) 

I planted strawberries, and make a little fence, that is not doing it's job! Strawberries were just starting to get red.....next thing you know, chickens got through it and had a little snack.

 

Speaking of chickens- we lost 3 last week, in the middle of the day, to a predator. Based on the attack, type of wounds, and location of the bodies, we are guessing fox. There were some tracks down by the brook, but the mud was quite deep, and the tracks were distorted- they looked like the could have been bobcat or fox.  It was particularly sad because it was 3 we had raised from day olds, 3 super friendly girls. It's impossible to not notice their absence, as they were the type to always coming running whenever you went outside. Everyone is locked in the coop when we are not home now.


We are headed towards Houlton to pick up some new layers and a rooster this week. I think we also need to expand the run if they are spending more time there. Or...we could just get a guard llama!



Chickens in a sun shower

Something else interesting to mention- we've got a few newly hatched fly catchers in a nest up under the covered porch of the shed! This is the 3rd year they have built a nest, but the first year they have hatched chicks. It's got to be the same couple- I see them every year, they spend a lot of time in the apple tree, and near the garden. I love to see them swoop down and pick off bugs. I had to sneak a peak up in the nest the other day- mother bird was not happy with this though, so I quickly got out of her space.

Green

Things are getting green again! I love this time of year. It is super busy, but also super beautiful, and there is an amazing energy that the earth puts off only right now- everything coming back to life, even the rainy days are lovely.

My big maple

 I finished school for the semester yesterday, and I have a week before my summer classes start- in that time I hope to get a head start on the garden and a few other projects around the house before the crazy condensed courses start!

 

The garden has been tilled, and I have planted some- radishes, lettuce, beets, chard, scallions, parsley and early carrots. I may plant another row of lettuce and beets soon, but I will wait until the first of June to plant most everything else- we will still have cold nights and frost, so I'd rather wait than lose important things like green beans and corn and have to replant.

Honestly, this thing scares me, and it's hard to work!

Julian, the rooster went to live back at his old house, he was leading our hens too far away-like across one neighbors lawn and on to the other! We have 2.5 acres here, so that really is not necessary!

I was not completely on board with getting rid of him, but I agreed under the conditions that I could get a few new hens, and a new rooster just happened to come with them.  We got a Light Brahma (Daisy) a Cuckoo Marans ( unnamed so far) and a pair of Maradunna Basques- (the hen is Honey). Integrating new chickens can be a pain, but so far, so good.